Controversial Keystone XL Pipeline route rejected

Lyons, NE - Americans concerned about the proposed route of the Keystone XL Pipeline received welcome news Wednesday when the Obama administration announced the rejection of a special U.S. State Department permit for the Keystone XL pipeline.

"We applaud President Obama and Secretary of State Clinton for making a common sense decision that protects both Nebraska and the entire nation," said Johnathon Hladik, Energy Policy Advocate at the Center for Rural Affairs.

Approving the Keystone XL pipeline without an established route through Nebraska would amount to a failure on the part of our federal government to consider the best interests of the American people," Hladik concluded.

According to a  U.S. State Department news release, the Department has been conducting a transparent, thorough, and rigorous review of TransCanada's permit application for the proposed Keystone XL Pipeline project since 2008. As a result of this process, particularly given the concentration of concerns regarding the proposed route through the Sand Hills area of Nebraska, on November 10, 2011, the Department announced that it could not make a national interest determination regarding the permit application without additional information.

Specifically, the Department called for an assessment of alternative pipeline routes that avoided the uniquely sensitive terrain of the Sand Hills in Nebraska. The Department estimated, in consultation with the State of Nebraska and TransCanada and based on prior projects of similar length and scope, that it could complete the necessary review to make a decision by the first quarter of 2013.

Congress passed the Temporary Payroll Tax Cut Continuation Act of 2011 on December 23, 2011. The Act provides 60 days for the President to determine whether the Keystone XL pipeline is in the national interest - which, according to the State Department release, the Administration considers insufficient for such a determination. The denial of the permit does not, however, preclude any subsequent permit application or applications for similar projects.

The Center for Rural Affairs rallied along with thousands of other Nebraskans during the past year building opposition to the proposed line, attending hearings across the state and expressing concern about the proposed route of the pipeline.  Many Center supporters and staff members testified in opposition to the pipeline's projected route, which would travel through 300 miles of Nebraska, including 92 miles across the Sandhills, bringing oil from tar sands in northern Canada to refineries in the southern United States. A determined set of individuals and organizations representing varied interests and communities throughout Nebraska played a pivotal role in the final decision.

"This decision is a win for the innumerable citizens, activists and advocates who made their voice heard," said Hladik. "While there is still work to be done, we can now be proud that we did our part to protect our air, land and water for this generation and the next."

WASHINGTON, Jan. 18, 2012-TODAY, Agriculture Secretary Tom Vilsack will host a national media conference call to announce disaster assistance to help farmers, land owners, communities and others recover and rebuild after a year in which a wave of natural disasters swept across all regions of the United States. The funding will provide assistance to help rebuild and repair land damaged on account of flooding, drought, tornadoes and other natural disasters in 33 states and Puerto Rico.

A strong farm safety net is important to sustain the success of American agriculture. To help keep American agriculture profitable, USDA immediately responds to disasters across the country, ranging from record floods, droughts and tropical storms, with direct support, disaster assistance, technical assistance, and access to credit.

Wednesday, Jan. 18, 2012

1:30 p.m. EST

WHAT: Agriculture Secretary Vilsack to host a national media conference call to announce disaster assistance.

DIAL IN: 800-857-5233

Passcode: SECY (Given Verbally)

Troubleshooting: 202-720-8560

All callers using the above pass code will be placed in listen only mode. To join the Q&A portion of the meeting, callers are instructed to press *1 on their touch tone phone.

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END TO DIRECT PAYMENTS, CHANGES FOR ARMY CORPS OF ENGINEERS FLOODWATER PLAN, AND CROP ESTIMATE TOOLS AMONG KEY ISSUES DEBATED AT 93rd ANNUAL AMERICAN FARM BUREAU FEDERATION MEETING

Hill Elected to AFBF Board of Directors

WEST DES MOINES, IOWA - Jan. 11, 2012 - In a move which began with Iowa Farm Bureau Federation (IFBF) voting delegates last year, the nation's largest grassroots farm organization voted to end direct payments in the 2012 Farm Bill, during the American Farm Bureau Federation's (AFBF) 93rd Annual Convention this week in Honolulu.

"Iowa Farm Bureau members took a stand a year ago and led national discussion on the importance of achieving a fiscally responsible position which acknowledged our nation's budget concerns, yet maintained a safety net for our nation's food producers," said IFBF President Craig Hill.  "This week our national delegation of farmers agreed; the time is right to take a stand."

IFBF farmers also led a national discussion on Missouri River flood control measures, the accuracy of the nation's crop reporting system and conservation.

"Iowa lost more than 350 homes and suffered more than $207 million in damage when the Missouri River went out of its banks this year.  We're pleased the national delegation recognized the need to encourage the Army Corps of Engineers to adjust their formula for retention of water for consideration of future weather events and the impact of people in these counties," said Hill, an Iowa voting delegate. "Their release of overflow created flooding in 280,000 acres, many of which were not in the floodplains. The end result was total devastation."

AFBF delegates adopted Iowa language opposing any linkage of crop insurance with conservation compliance, Hill said.  While Iowa farmers lead the nation in conservation, linking the programs could cause financial disasters for Iowa farmers, he said.  "Because of torrential weather events like we've seen in recent years, we also know that linkage of conservation to crop insurance simply risks too much at a time when the stakes have never been higher for farmers.  There are already 15 farm programs that link to the conservation title in the Farm Bill, so to deny crop insurance to farmers because of weather events beyond their control could put a farmer out of business in a single year's event."  Eighty-five percent of Iowa farmers have crop insurance.

Iowa voting delegates also led discussion to improve the way the government does crop reporting estimates, which are so influential on national and international markets.  Iowa farmers won agreement from Farm Bureau members across the nation to urge the National Ag Statistics Service (NASS) to use improved technology and methodology such as satellite imagery to estimate crop numbers, not just because it's more accurate, but also because new technologies are more cost effective.

IFBF also received several awards during the 93rd Annual AFBF meeting in Hawaii.  Iowa President Hill was elected to a one-year term on the AFBF Board of Directors, and young Page County crop and livestock farmers Justin and Jennifer Dammann won Top 10 Young Farmer Achievement award honors for their knowledge and farming achievement and commitment to sharing agriculture's message.  Iowa's largest grassroots farm organization also received national Awards of Excellence in five categories including ag education and promotion, leadership development, member services, policy implementation and public relations and information.

For more information on AFBF resolutions, leader awards and to hear IFBF leaders discuss Iowa farming priorities, visit the Media section of the IFBF website, www.iowafarmbureau.com.

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